Walton boys hoops advances to 1-3A final

By ADAM PRUIETT

adamp@nwfdailynews.com

SANTA ROSA BEACH - With one mighty puff, the Walton boys basketball team extinguished the flickering hopes of Northview.

The Braves barreled out to a 21-5 lead after the first quarter, setting the tone for an easy 77-49 victory in the District 1-3A tournament semifinals on Friday at South Walton.

“They came out and did a great job of taking care of business,” Walton coach Jerry Hester said.

Four players scored in double figures for second-seeded Walton, which will meet top-seeded Pensacola Catholic at 7 tonight in the district final.

Not surprisingly, Hester said the Braves’ top priority will be containing Catholic’s Gavin Macneil, who registered 27 points in just three quarters of action in the Crusaders’ 74-40 victory over fourth-seeded South Walton. Macneil burned the Braves during the regular season when Catholic defeated them twice.

“We must cut down his production,” Hester said. “And the other thing we have to do is when he makes a move, we can’t foul him because he’s automatic from the foul line.

“The other thing is we’ve got to be able to board with them.”

Walton (13-12) jumped on Northview (7-10) from the opening tip, as Tarrell Bramlet bookended a 13-1 run with a pair of putbacks. Dylan Laird then scored eight straight points, including two 3-pointers, to boost the Braves’ lead to 16.

Northview never recovered.

In the second quarter, Walton went inside to Sidney McGhee and Justin Crishon for baskets, and James Towery’s trifecta propelled the Braves to a 36-12 halftime advantage.

Laird, Towery and Issac Jackson had 11 points apiece for Walton and Bramlet added 10 and eight rebounds. Nakita Myles had a game-high 23 points for Northview, while Tarus Thomas scored all 18 of his points in the second half.

Macneil was the story of the second game, equaling South Walton’s first-half point total of 17 points by himself as Catholic built a 38-17 advantage. Macneil jump-started his big night with 11 points in the first quarter.

Shane Seeger buried a trio of 3-pointers and had 12 points for the Seahawks (4-22), while David Key chipped in 11 points.

“I thought we ran some offense tonight, but we didn’t score as often,” South Walton coach John Davies said. “We’ve got to make sure we make our layups, our free throws early and then we’re hanging (with them).”

South Walton, a senior-free team, will return its entire roster next season.

“We understood that we were young and we understood our commitment was to our youth and to the long hall,” Davies said. “ … We’re really looking forward to the future.”

Northview 5 7 23 14 - 49

Walton 21 15 21 20 - 77

NORTHVIEW (49)

Thomas 18, F. Jackson 6, Myles 23, K. Jackson 2. Totals: 17 2 9-14 49.

WALTON (77)

Tarrell Bramlet 10, James Towery 11, Larel Jackson 3, Dylan Laird 11, Aaron Timmons 2, Issac Jackson 11, Paul McClure 3, Deon Lee 3, Sidney McGhee 4, Ebae Young 4, Craig Brooks 9, Justin Crishon 6. Totals: 23 7 10-13 77.

South Walton 12 5 13 10- 40

Catholic 17 21 20 16 - 74

SOUTH WALTON (40)

David Key 11, Ezra Edwards 2, Shane Seeger 12, Wells Buzzett 2, Mason Smith 2, Jordan Colson 3, Jake Wright 6, Spencer Martin 2. Totals: 10 5 5-8 40.

CATHOLIC (74)

Dziadon 7, Lipscomb 8, Cobb 5, Gibson 10, Padin 3, Macneil 27, Wilson 3, Weathers 5, Blay 2, Kooi 4. Totals: 24 7 5-10 74.